PMO Strategies

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Power SkillsPMOs were never meant to be just about tracking outputs. The real reason executive teams approve the creation of a PMO is to drive better business outcomes.  In this episode, I’m talking about how the original purpose of the PMO has been buried under layers of process, compliance, and bureaucracy—and what it takes to bring it back to driving meaningful results.  I break down why purpose must come before process, how too many PMOs have slipped into measuring activity instead of outcomes, and the three commitments I’ve seen high-IMPACT PMOs make that set them apart from the rest.  This episode is your blueprint for shifting the conversation from project volume to business velocity—especially if your PMO is being recognized more for producing status reports than for delivering strategic IMPACT.  What You'll Learn:  Why PMOs that focus on outcomes over process always win How to set strategy up for success before execution even begins Ways to optimize delivery systems to accelerate results, not slow them down How to hold your PMO accountable to real-world business outcomes Practical steps to reframe your value without waiting for permission 👉 Press play to learn how to build real traction with your words—not just your workload.  P.S. Looking to shift your PMO from execution to true strategic influence? The IMPACT Engine System gives you a clear, step-by-step path to deliver measurable outcomes, build executive trust, and elevate your role across the organization—without the chaos and overwhelm.   P.P.S. On September 10, we’re celebrating the one-year anniversary of The IMPACT Engine! Whether you already own the book or have been waiting to grab a copy, now’s your chance. Not on the newsletter yet? Join today so you don’t miss the exclusive September 9 sneak peek at special offers and giveaways—my way of saying thanks for an incredibly IMPACTful year! Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!I welcome your feedback and insights! I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!Warmly,Laura BarnardGET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Business AcumenPMOs were never meant to be just support teams. They’re strategic engines—and it’s time the world caught up.  If you’ve been delivering projects without influence, you’re missing the opportunity to lead your company’s strategy from the inside out.  In this episode, I’m joined by Aina Alive, Founder and CEO at Bee Agile and CEO and VP of Marketing at The PMO Community, and the lead editor of the Amazon bestseller The Evolution of the PMO: Rise of the Chief Project Officer, a global collaboration from 40 thought leaders across 6 continents challenging everything we thought we knew about project leadership.  Together, we discuss why execution is no longer a back-office function and how a new kind of leader is emerging: the Chief Project Officer (CPO).  This isn’t about renaming the PMO. It’s about reclaiming execution as a strategic capability, and building the mindset, skills, and partnerships that turn PMO leaders into strategy navigators and trusted business advisors.  What You'll Learn:  Why project execution is becoming a strategic differentiator What separates the Chief Project Officer (CPO) from traditional PMO leaders How to evolve from execution support to executive business partner What AI is changing (and not changing) about the role of human leadership Why emotional intelligence is now a core competency for PMO leaders First steps to reposition your PMO as a trusted strategic arm of the business 👉 Press play to learn how the future of execution belongs to those bold enough to lead it.  Connect with Aina: Follow her on LinkedIn Grab the book The Evolution of the PMO & Rise of the Chief Project Officer Visit BeeAgile’s website Check out The PMO Strategy and Execution Hub  P.S. Lead where strategy happens. The IMPACT Accelerator Mastermind gives you the coaching, tools, and support to stop operating like a support function and start delivering the business outcomes your executives are counting on. Click here to learn more! 🚀 Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!I welcome your feedback and insights! I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!Warmly,Laura BarnardGET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Power SkillsYou’re delivering results. You’re solving problems. But if no one knows about it, it’s like it never happened.  In this episode, I’m sharing why it’s not enough to simply do great work—you also need to make that work visible. I’ll walk you through how to market your IMPACT with intention, earn executive buy-in, and make sure your results actually get the recognition they deserve.  Learn how to build credibility, boost morale, and position your PMO as an indispensable part of the business—all by making your value clear, consistent, and impossible to ignore.  If your work is driving real outcomes behind the scenes, this episode will help you bring those wins to the forefront.   What You'll Learn:  Why “doing the work” isn’t enough to earn support How to build a real-time win file to track your team’s results Ways to translate project activity into business outcomes How to set up visibility rhythms that make your IMPACT stick Why executive buy-in starts with strategic communication How celebration drives morale, momentum, and recognition 👉 Press play to learn how to make your results visible, your value clear, and your team truly unforgettable.  P.S. Ready to make your value visible? Inside the IMPACT Accelerator Mastermind, you'll learn how to lead with strategy, earn executive trust, and position your team as essential to business success. Get the coaching, tools, and support to drive real outcomes. Click here to learn more. 🚀Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!I welcome your feedback and insights! I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!Warmly,Laura BarnardGET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Power SkillsEveryone talks about PMO frameworks. We’re talking about the humans behind them.  If your playbook starts with process instead of people, you're skipping the most important part of the work: understanding how your organization really functions—politically, emotionally, and psychologically.  In this episode, I’m joined by Brandy Brown, one of our incredible IMPACT Accelerator Mastermind students, an enterprise PMO leader and organizational strategist with a background in industrial/organizational psychology. Brandy brings a human-centered approach to strategy and change, with a strong track record of driving sustainable results across complex organizations.  We explore what actually creates traction when you're standing up or evolving a PMO. It’s not flashy launches or heavyweight governance. It’s sponsorship that challenges you, credibility built on quick wins, and a strategic approach to human behavior inside complex organizations.  Whether you’re starting from scratch or working within an established EPMO, this episode gives you the perspective, tools, and mindset to lead real transformation.   What You'll Learn:  Why understanding human behavior is a PMO essential, not a bonus How Brandy used sponsorship to create traction and accountability The psychology behind quick wins and credibility loops How to design collaboration that builds pull (not push) What it means to lead with empathy inside political organizations  👉 Press play to learn how to build a trust-first PMO that actually sticks.  Connect with Brandy: Follow her on LinkedIn P.S. If you're ready to master leadership mindset like Brandy, join her and other industry leaders inside the IMPACT Accelerator Mastermind! With expert coaching, deep-dive workshops, and hands-on support, you’ll get the structure and guidance to lead with clarity, deliver with purpose, and create real, lasting IMPACT. 🚀 Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!I welcome your feedback and insights! I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!Warmly,Laura BarnardGET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Power SkillsYou don’t prove your leadership by taking on everything yourself. You prove it by creating space, enabling others, and delivering results that last. In this episode, I’m calling out the hidden cost of wearing “busy” like a badge—and why so many high-performing leaders quietly hold themselves back by refusing to ask for help. We’ll talk about how the lone hero mindset sabotages your growth, what real executive-level leadership looks like, and how to shift from doing the work…to leading the work. If you’ve been telling yourself “I’ve got it,” when what you really need is a team beside you—this conversation is for you.   What You'll Learn:  Why doing it all yourself isn’t sustainable—or strategic How the lone hero mindset blocks your growth A real-world story of shared ownership that changed everything What top executives understand about asking for help How to build trust, increase clarity, and lead through others  👉 Press play to learn how to stop doing it all alone—and start leading like an executive. P.S. The IMPACT Insiders Book Club is so much more than reading a book—it's a movement. Join us for live calls, deep conversations, and a behind-the-scenes look at how to create real change with The IMPACT Engine. It’s completely free—grab your seat now and don’t miss what’s next. Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!I welcome your feedback and insights! I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!Warmly,Laura BarnardGET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Ways of WorkingIf your projects are hitting deadlines but missing the point—this episode is for you.   Kevin Torf isn’t interested in checking boxes. After four decades leading large-scale IT and infrastructure projects across major health systems and Fortune 500s, he’s built a reputation on one thing: getting the job done—in full, at scale, and with measurable business value.   In this episode, Kevin breaks down the PROJECTS framework—a hybrid-Agile model designed to help PMOs lead complex initiatives with clear structure, empowered teams, and outcomes that actually matter.   You’ll hear how high-performing organizations juggle moving targets without burning out their people, how they define governance without creating gridlock, and how they stop chasing status and start delivering strategic traction.   Plans don’t drive value. Execution does—especially when it’s adaptive, team-driven, and outcome-focused.   What You'll Learn:  Why the triple constraint won’t earn executive trust  How to apply Kevin’s PROJECTS framework to real-world complexity  What true team empowerment looks like (hint: it’s not micromanagement)  How to set up decision structures that accelerate, not stall  What to measure when “on time and on budget” isn’t enough    👉 Press play to learn how having the right structure, teams, and rhythms moves strategy across the finish line.  Connect with Kevin: Follow Kevin on LinkedIn Access Getting the Job Done book Visit T2Group P.S. The IMPACT Insiders Book Club is so much more than reading a book—it's a movement. Join us for live calls, deep conversations, and a behind-the-scenes look at how to create real change with The IMPACT Engine. It’s completely free—grab your seat now and don’t miss what’s next. Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!I welcome your feedback and insights! I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!Warmly,Laura BarnardGET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Power SkillsResistance gets blamed on people. But in reality, it’s almost always the process. If your team stalls, misses deadlines, or avoids your intake forms, it's not because they don't care. It's because they’re stuck in a system full of blockers. The approvals, the checklists, the uncertainty, the silence. That’s the friction. And friction kills flow. In this episode, I’ll show you how to spot the systems that create resistance, how to reduce the barriers that get in your team's way, and what it really means to design for performance. What You’ll Learn: Why resistance is usually created by the process, not the people What quiet resistance actually looks like in high-performing teams How to remove blockers without sacrificing accountability The difference between flow and pressure Why "good enough" beats perfect when you’re building momentum 👉 Press play to find out what’s driving resistance and what to do when your system is the problem.  P.S. This is your last week to grab a personalized, signed copy of my bestselling book, The IMPACT Engine — and you’ll get the e-book version FREE so you can start reading instantly, plus a bunch of extra FREE goodies. Only 50 copies are available, and they’re going fast! Grab it here. P.P.S. If you’ve already bought any version of The IMPACT Engine book previously, don’t forget to sign up for our Book Club. The IMPACT Insiders Book Club is so much more than reading a book — it's a movement. Join us for live calls, deep conversations, and a behind-the-scenes look at how to create real change with The IMPACT Engine. It’s completely free — grab your seat now and don’t miss what’s next.Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!I welcome your feedback and insights! I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!Warmly,Laura BarnardGET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Power SkillsThis episode is personal, and it’s tactical. For my birthday this year, I’m sharing the 10 lessons I wish someone had handed me when I was starting out. These are the truths I had to learn the hard way: through friction, burnout, and wasted time trying to prove my value instead of designing for it. If you've ever spent more time defending your role than doing your job, this one's for you. What You’ll Learn: Why “on time, on scope, on budget” is a trap How to lead without waiting for permission The real reason no one sees the value you’re adding What friction in your process is actually costing you How to build a system that speaks for itself 👉 Press play to hear the 10 lessons that will save you years of frustration and show you how to lead with clarity, credibility, and momentum. P.S. It’s my birthday week, and I’m celebrating with something special just for you. 🎉 The full reveal drops publicly on my birthday—Thursday, July 10th—but newsletter subscribers get early access on Wednesday, July 9th. This exclusive offer will be available 24 hours before the release date, and quantities are limited, so be sure to subscribe and watch your inbox closely! 🎁 P.P.S. If you’ve already bought any version of The IMPACT Engine book previously, don’t forget to sign up for our Book Club. The IMPACT Insiders Book Club is so much more than reading a book — it's a movement. Join us for live calls, deep conversations, and a behind-the-scenes look at how to create real change with The IMPACT Engine. It’s completely free — grab your seat now and don’t miss what’s next. Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!I welcome your feedback and insights! I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!Warmly,Laura BarnardGET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Ways of WorkingIn this episode, Laura Barnard is joined by longtime friend and productivity powerhouse Elise Stevens to explore how AI is revolutionizing project delivery. Together, they break down the myths about AI taking over jobs and instead show how smart use of AI can elevate the role of delivery leaders. From email communication to risk management, Elise and Laura offer real-world, tactical advice on how to integrate AI to reduce admin burden and boost strategic IMPACT.  What You’ll Learn:  Why AI won’t replace delivery leaders but will elevate them instead How to use AI tactically to simplify daily project tasks  How to reduce admin work and create more space for strategic engagement Which AI tools and strategies can accelerate delivery while lowering stress Why the best starting point is low-stakes, high-frustration work 👉 Press play to explore how AI is revolutionizing project delivery.  Connect with Elise: Follow on LinkedIn Check out her website P.S. The IMPACT Insiders Book Club is so much more than reading a book — it's a movement. Join us for live calls, deep conversations, and a behind-the-scenes look at how to create real change with The IMPACT Engine. It’s completely free — grab your seat now and don’t miss what’s next. Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!I welcome your feedback and insights! I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!Warmly,Laura BarnardGET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Confidence isn't just something you have; it's forged through action. Overcoming challenges boosts your competence, which naturally leads to confidence. Experiences like a botched keynote can ground you and reshape your approach to fear and risk. Engaging in practice, rather than waiting for the perfect moment, is essential for empowerment. Building skills through consistent effort and learning from feedback is key, ensuring that every small step you take builds the foundation for lasting confidence.